Barrel locking apparatus for a paintball gun

ABSTRACT

Paintball or non-lethal gun or marker apparatuses are disclosed to prevent projectiles from being inadvertently discharged from a paintball or other non-lethal gun or markers.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/069768, filed Mar. 1, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/862005, filed Jun. 4, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a paintball or other non-lethal gun or marker barrel locking end cap apparatus.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a paintball or other non-lethal gun or marker barrel locking end cap apparatus, where the apparatus includes a cylindrical barrel end insert, a paintball penetrator disposed within an interior of the insert, and an outer barrel engaging and locking assemblage having retention straps attached thereto. The present invention also relates to a paintball gun or marker or other non-lethal gun or gun type apparatus barrel locking end cap apparatus, where the apparatus includes an outer barrel engaging and locking assemblage having a paintball penetrator disposed on an interior, distal surface of the assemblage, optionally a plurality of vents disposed on the distal end of the assemblage, a plurality of barrel engaging members or fingers and a threaded tightener adapted to tighten or loosen a locking force between the members and an outer surface of the barrel and optionally a stop. For non-paintball guns, the barrel engaging and locking assemblage does not require a penetrator.

2. Description of the Related Art

Inadvertent firing or discharging of a paintball from a paintball gun or marker is a serious safety problem facing users, spectators and innocent bystanders. Although many barrel adaptors or condoms have been designed and introduced into the market, these devices are capable of being easily detached removing any protection that the devices afforded prior to detachment.

Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved barrel plug or condom for use with paintball or other non-lethal guns or markers to improve safety and lessen the chance of inadvertent detachment of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a paintball gun or marker barrel locking end cap including an internal barrel portion comprising a cylindrical barrel plug insert having an inwardly extending paintball penetrating member disposed therein and one or a plurality of vents leading from an interior of the barrel to an exterior of the end cap. The vents are designed to exhaust any gases from an inadvertent firing or discharging of the gun or marker and to exhaust any paint from a paintball after the paintball has been punctured by the penetrating member. The end cap also includes an external portion comprising an outer barrel surface engaging assembly designed to surround an outer portion of the barrel near an end of the barrel, where the engaging assembly includes an outer barrel engaging and securing or locking member with a locking force that is sufficient to make removal with out loosening difficult. The outer barrel member of the engaging assembly is designed to engage the outer portion of the barrel with sufficient force that the end cap cannot be removed without reducing an engaging force by untightening the outer barrel member.

The present invention provides a paintball gun or marker barrel locking end cap including an outer barrel engaging and locking assemblage having a paintball penetrator disposed on an interior, distal surface of the assemblage and optionally a plurality of vents disposed, at or near the distal end of the assemblage. The assemblage also includes a plurality of barrel engaging members or fingers and a threaded tightener sleeve adapted to tighten or loosen a locking force between the members and an outer surface of the barrel and optionally a stop adapted to stop the tightener at a certain position when fully untightened. Alternatively, the opened end of the assemblage can be slotted so that when the tightening sleeve is tightened in forces an inner surface of the opened end into frictional contact with an end of a barrel of a paintball gun. The tube or its members are designed to engage an outer surface of a paintball barrel with a locking force that is sufficient to make removal without loosening difficult to very difficult, where difficult means that a child or young adult would not have sufficient strength to remove the end cap and very difficult means that a normal adult would also be unable to remove the end cap.

The present invention provides a method for preventing inadvertent paintball discharges from a paintball gun or mark including the step of inserting an internal barrel portion of a locking barrel end cap into an end of a barrel of a paintball gun or marker, where the internal barrel portion comprises a cylindrical barrel plug insert having an inwardly extending paintball penetrating member disposed therein and one or a plurality of vents leading from an interior of the barrel to an exterior of the end cap. The vents are designed to exhaust any gases from an inadvertent firing or discharging of the gun or marker and to exhaust any paint from a paintball after the paintball has been punctured by the penetrating member. After inserting the internal portion into the barrel end, an external portion is tightened about a portion of the barrel near the barrel end with sufficient engaging force that the end cap cannot be removed unless the external portion is loosened or untightened, where the external portion comprises an outer barrel surface engaging member designed to surround an outer portion of the barrel near an end of the barrel. The external portion of the barrel end cap apparatus can be integral with, affixed to or detachably affixed to the internal portion of the barrel end cap.

NEW DISCLOSURE

The present invention also relates to a barrel engaging and locking apparatus for use with non-lethal propellant drive guns, which propel soft balls from a barrel, where the apparatus includes a member having a closed end and a threaded opened end. The apparatus also preferably includes one or a plurality of vents associated with or located near its closed end.

The present invention also relates to a barrel engaging and locking apparatus for use With non-lethal propellant drive guns, which propel soft balls from a barrel, where the apparatus includes two apertures in the barrel along its length, but preferably near its end and a blocking pin designed to be inserted into the apertures, where the pin stop any projectiles fired from the gun. Preferably, the pin has a tab on its proximal end making it easier to grab. The pin also preferably includes a locking member designed to prevent the pin from being dislodged from the apertures in the barrel. The apparatus can also include a mount mounted on the barrel for holding or securing the pin when it is not inserted through the apertures in the barrel. The apparatus can also include a retaining member attached at one end it to the proximal end of the pin and attached at its other end to the mount where the retaining member is designed to reduce the tendency of the pin to be lost.

The present invention also relates to a barrel engaging and locking apparatus for use with non-lethal propellant drive guns, which propel soft balls from a barrel, where the apparatus includes a slot in the barrel fitted with a pivoting flip tab that when flipped up blocks the barrel and when flipped down closes the slot. The apparatus also preferably includes a releasable locking member for holding the tab in its up position until the locking member is released.

The present invention also relates to a barrel engaging and locking apparatus for use with non-lethal propellant drive guns, which propel soft balls from a barrel, where the apparatus includes a slot in the barrel, an insertion disk, an insertion tab mount, and a retaining member attached to the insertion disk and the mount, where the disk is designed to be inserted in to the slot to block the barrel at the slot. The apparatus also preferably includes a releasable locking member associated with either the barrel or the disk to locks the tab in place until released.

The present invention also relates to a barrel engaging and locking apparatus for use with non-lethal propellant drive guns, which propel soft balls from a barrel, where the apparatus includes a diaphragm blocking device having a diaphragm and a turnable housing mounted into the barrel. The turnable housing is designed to open and close the diaphragm. The diaphragm is designed to open such that the diaphragm retracts into the housing clearing the barrel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following detailed description together with the appended illustrative drawings in which like elements are numbered the same:

FIGS. 1A-D depict a preferred embodiment of a locking barrel end cap for a paintball gun in cross-sectional, plan and top views, respectively;

FIGS. 2A-D depict another preferred embodiment of a locking barrel end cap for a paintball gun in cross-sectional, side and top views, respectively and an expanded view of an engaging ring;

FIGS. 3A-C depict another preferred embodiment of a locking barrel end cap for a paintball gun in a cross-sectional, side and perspective views;

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of another preferred embodiment of a locking barrel end cap for a paintball gun;

FIG. 5A depicts a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a outer barrel engaging and locking assemblage;

FIG. 5B depicts an end view of the assemblage of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C depicts a side view of an barrel engaging member of this invention,

FIG. 5D depicts a front view of the barrel engaging member of FIG. 5C mounted in its corresponding aperture;

FIG. 5E depicts a cross-section view of another preferred embodiment of a outer barrel engaging and locking assemblage;

FIG. 5F depicts an end view of the tube of FIG. 5E;

FIG. 5G depicts a cross-section view of another preferred embodiment of a outer barrel engaging and locking assemblage; and

FIG. 5H depicts an end view of the tube of FIG. 5G.

FIG. 6A depicts

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have found that a barrel end cap can be constructed that includes an internal portion having a paintball an inwardly extending penetration member and a plurality of aperture leading from the barrel interior to the exterior of the end cap. The end cap also includes an external part having a securing or locking assembly that is designed to engage an exterior surface of the barrel with sufficient force to prevent the cap from being inadvertently detaching from the barrel.

The present invention broadly relates to a paintball gun or marker locking end cap apparatus including an internal portion having a barrel insert including a paintball penetrating device extending from an interior of the insert towards a barrel end of the insert and one or a plurality of vents allowing materials to flow from an interior of the barrel to the surroundings. The penetrating device is designed to rupture any paintball inadvertently fired or discharged by the paintball gun or marker and the vent or vents are designed to exhaust any gases or paint from an inadvertent firing or discharging of the paintball gun or marker. The end cap apparatus also includes an external portion including a barrel engaging assembly, where the barrel engaging assembly is designed to engage an outer portion of the barrel near the barrel end with sufficient force so that the end cap cannot be removed without first untightening or unlocking the barrel engaging assembly.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-D, a preferred embodiment of a paintball gun end cap apparatus, generally 100, is shown to include an internal portion 110 and an external portion 150. The internal portion 110 includes a cylindrical barrel plug insert 112 having a paintball penetrating member 114 comprising an inwardly pointing spike 116 having a pointed tip 118 and a plurality of vents 120. The penetrating member 114 is designed to rupture any paintball inadvertently fired or discharged from a paint ball gun (not shown) as it travels down a barrel 122 toward the penetrating member 114. The vents 120 are designed to exhaust any gases or fluid generated from an inadvertent firing or discharging of a paintball and rupturing of the paintball as it encounters the penetrating member 114.

The external portion 150 includes cap portion 152 and a cylindrical outer barrel engaging portion 154 including two opposing slits 156 and a tightening assembly 158 associated with each slit 156. The assembly 158 is designed to generate a sufficient engaging force against a portion 160 of the barrel 122 so that the apparatus cannot be removed without untightening the assembly 158. The tightening assembly 158 includes abase 162, a guide block 164, a threaded block 166 and a threaded wing nut 168, where the wing nut 168 (or any other threaded bolt that can be tightened using a user's finger) is inserted through an aperture 170 in the guide block 162 and into a threaded aperture 172 in the threaded block 166 so that by screwing the wing nut 168 into the threaded aperture 172, the slit 156 is narrowed or closed generating the engaging force. Additionally, the barrel 122 can include a groove (not shown) into which a tab (not shown) on the inside of the outer barrel engaging portion 154 fits to further secure the apparatus 100 to the barrel 122. The apparatus 100 also includes straps 174 and strap blocks 176 affixed to the cap portion 152, where the straps 174 are designed to prevent the end cap apparatus 100 from being lost from the gun when not in use. The straps 174 generally are tied to the gun at their other ends.

Looking at FIG. 1C, the apparatus 100 includes two opposing slits 156 having associated tightening assemblies 158, one for each slit 156. Looking at FIG. 1D, the apparatus 100 includes a single slit 156 having an associated tightening assembly 158.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-C, another preferred embodiment of a paintball gun end cap apparatus, generally 200, is shown to include an internal portion 210 and an external portion 250. The internal portion 210 includes a cylindrical barrel plug insert 212 having a paintball penetrating member 214 comprising an inwardly pointing spike 216 having a pointed tip 218 and a plurality of vents 220. It should be recognized that although a single penetrating member 214 is shown, a plurality of such members could also be used. The penetrating member 214 is designed to rupture any paintball inadvertently fired or discharged from a paint ball gun (not shown) as it travels down a barrel 222 toward the penetrating member 214. The vents 220 are designed to exhaust any gases or fluid generated from an inadvertent firing or discharging of a paintball and rupturing of the paintball as it encounters the penetrating member 214.

The external portion 250 includes cap portion 252 and a slotted cylindrical outer barrel engaging portion 254 including a plurality of slots 256 separating a plurality of barrel engaging members 258 having tightening ring supports 260. The engaging portion 254 also includes a tightening ring 262 having a tightening assembly 264 associated therewith supported on the ring supports 260. The assembly 264 is designed to tighten the tightening ring 262 generating a sufficient engaging force against a portion 266 of the barrel 222 so that the apparatus cannot be removed without untightening the assembly 264. The tightening assembly 264 includes a guide block 268, a threaded block 270 and a threaded wing nut 272, where the wing nut 272 (or any other threaded bolt that can be tightened using a user's finger) is inserted through an aperture 274 in the guide block 268 and into a threaded aperture 276 in the threaded block 270 so that by screwing the wing nut 272 into the threaded aperture 276, the engaging members 258 are forced towards each other closing the slots 256 generating the engaging force. Additionally, the barrel 222 can include a groove into which a tab on the inside of the outer barrel engaging portion 254 fits to further secure the apparatus 200 to the barrel 222. The apparatus 200 also includes straps 278 and strap blocks 280 affixed to the cap portion 252, where the straps 278 are designed to prevent the end cap apparatus 200 from being lost from the gun when not in use. The straps 278 generally are tied to the gun at their other ends. Looking at FIG. 2D, the tightening ring 262 is shown separated clearly showing that the guide block 268 and the threaded block 270 comprise opposing ends 282 of the tightening ring 262.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-C, another preferred embodiment of a paintball gun end cap apparatus, generally 300, is shown to is shown to include an internal portion 310 and an external portion 350. The internal portion 310 includes a larger cylindrical cap portion 311 and a smaller cylindrical barrel insert 312 and a paintball penetrating member 314 comprising an inwardly pointing spike 316 having a pointed tip 318 and a plurality of vents 320. The penetrating member 314 extends inward from a cross-beam 315. It should be recognized that although a single penetrating member 314 is shown, a plurality of such members could also be used. The penetrating member 314 is designed to rupture any paintball inadvertently fired or discharged from a paint ball gun (not shown) as it travels down a barrel 322 toward the penetrating member 314. The vents 320 are designed to exhaust any gases or fluid generated from an inadvertent firing or discharging of a paintball and rupturing of the paintball as it encounters the penetrating member 314. The cap portion 311 includes two protrusions 324 designed to engage apertures on the external portion 350.

The external portion 350 includes two C-shaped barrel engaging members 352, each member 352 including a vertical post 354 having an aperture 356 designed to engage the protrusions 324 so that the members 352 hang from the protrusions 324. Each C-shaped barrel engaging member 352 includes a first end 358 having a guide block 360 including a guide aperture 362 therethrough extending outwardly therefrom. Each C-shaped barrel engaging member 352 also includes a second end 364 having a threaded block 366 including a threaded aperture 368 therethrough extending outwardly therefrom, where the threaded aperture 368 is designed to engage a wing nut (not shown) or other hand tightenable threaded member.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another preferred embodiment of a paintball gun end cap apparatus, generally 400, is shown to include an internal portion 410 and an external portion 450. The internal portion 410 includes a larger cylindrical cap portion 411 and a smaller cylindrical barrel insert 412 and a paintball penetrating member 414 comprising an inwardly pointing spike 416 having a pointed tip 418 and further comprising a plurality of vents 420. The penetrating member 414 extends inward from a top 413 of the larger cylindrical cap portion 411. It should be recognized that although a single penetrating member 414 is shown, a plurality of such members could also be used. The penetrating member 414 is designed to rupture any paintball inadvertently fired or discharged from a paint ball gun (not shown) as it travels down a barrel (not shown) toward the penetrating member 414. The vents 420 are designed to exhaust any gases or fluid generated from an inadvertent firing or discharging of a paintball and rupturing of the paintball as it encounters the penetrating member 414. The cap portion 411 includes two protrusions 424 designed to engage apertures on the external portion 450.

The external portion 450 includes two C-shaped barrel engaging members 452, each member 452 including a vertical post 454 having an aperture 456 designed to engage the protrusions 424 so that the members 452 hang from the protrusions 424. Each C-shaped barrel engaging member 452 includes a first end 458 having a guide block 460 including a guide aperture 462 therethrough extending outwardly therefrom. Each C-shaped barrel engaging member 452 also includes a second end 464 having a threaded block 466 including a threaded aperture 468 therethrough extending outwardly therefrom, where the threaded aperture 468 is designed to engage a wing nut 470 or other hand tightenable threaded member.

Although several locking assemblies have been shown for securing the end cap apparatuses of this invention to an end of a paintball barrel, other locking assemblies can also be used and are considered equivalents of the threaded connectors shown above. For example, the locking assembly could comprise a clamping device with a release such as a vice-grip, the C-shaped members could have clips or pins, or the ring could be a slotted band with a tightening screw. These and other tightening assemblies can be used equivalently in the barrel end caps of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-C, a preferred embodiment of a closed ended tubular barrel engaging and locking assembly of this invention, generally 500, is shown to include a tube 502 having an opened end 504 and a closed end 506. The assembly 500 also includes a sleeve type tightener 508 having a top 510, a bottom 512 and a inner threaded region 514. The tube or tubular member 502 also includes a plurality of vents 516 disposed at or near the closed end 506, where near means within about 0.75″ of the closed end 506 and preferably as close to the closed end 506 as practicable. The tube 502 also includes a plurality of barrel engaging members 518 pivotally mounted within a equal plurality of apertures 520 disposed near the opened end 504 of the tube 502. The tube 502 also includes an outer threaded region 522. The threaded region 514 is designed to engage the threaded region 522, when the tightener 508 is turned the tightener 508 either to tighten or loosen the tightener 508.

Looking at FIGS. 5C&D, the engaging members 518 are in the shape of a triangular solid and include rubber pads 524 disposed on their inner surfaces 526 for frictionally engaging a barrel 528 of a paintball gun (not shown) as shown in FIG. 5B. Each member 518 includes a groove 530 and two raised trapezoid shaped portion 532 disposed one each side 534 fo the member 518. Each aperture 520 includes a tongue 536 adapted to engage the groove 530 so that the member 518 can pivot on the tongue 536. Each aperture 520 also includes a trapezoid shaped groove 538 adapted to engage the portion 532 so that the member 518 can pivot in a guided manner relative to the tongue 536.

The tube 502 also includes a paintball penetrator 540 having a tip 542, where the penetrator 540 is disposed on an inner surface 544 of the closed end 506 and is designed to rupture any paintball impinging on the tip 542. The tube 502 can also include penetrator reinforcing members 546. The tube 502 can also include a penetrator protector 548 disposed on the penetrator 532 near its tip 542. The tube 502 can also includes a plurality of radially disposed grooves 550. The sleeve tighter 508 can also included a longitudinally extending ribbed pattern 552 for easy of turning.

Looking at FIGS. 5E&F, the assembly 500 is shown to also includes a penetrator protector 554 including a raised top portion 556 and an aperture therethrough 558 adapted to mount the protector 554 on the pentrator 540. The protector 554 is shown here to be in the shape of a twelve sided polygon having convex surfaces 560 and concave surfaces 562 and is preferably made out of metal such as aluminum and is designed to take a majority of force of a paintball impinging on the penetrator ooking at FIGS. 5E&F, the assembly 500 is shown to also includes a penetrator protector 564. The protector 564 is also shown here to be in the shape of a twelve sided polygon with convex surfaces 566 and concave surfaces 568 and is preferably made out rubber. Although the protectors 554 and 564 are shown to be twelve sided polygons having convex and concave surfaces, the protectors can be of any shape such as circular, oval, triangular, rectangular, pentagon, hexagonal, etc. and can include convex and/or concave surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NEW FIGURES

Referring now to FIG. 6A, a preferred embodiment of a screw-on, hollow, end barrel locking assembly of this invention, generally 600, is shown to include a hollow tube 602 having an open, threaded end 604 and a closed end 606 optionally including one or a plurality of vents 608. The assembly 600 is designed to be screwed into a threaded end 610 of a barrel 612 of a non-lethal propellant drive guns 614. Referring now to FIGS. 6B, another preferred embodiment of a screw-on end barrel locking assembly of this invention, generally 600, is shown to include a tube 602 having an end 604 and a threaded closed end 606 optionally including one or a plurality of vents 608. The assembly 600 is designed to be screwed into a threaded end 610 of a barrel 612 of a non-lethal propellant drive guns 614.

Referring now to FIG. 7A, a preferred embodiment of a screw-on barrel end cap of this invention, generally 700, is shown to include a cap 702 having a threaded end 704, a vent 706 and a grip 708 for allowing a user to tight and un-tighten the cap 700. Referring now to FIGS. 7B, another preferred embodiment of a screw-on barrel end cap of this invention, generally 750, is shown to include a cap 752 having a threaded end 754, a vent 756 and a tapered wing-type grip 758 for allowing a user to tight and un-tighten the cap 700.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a preferred embodiment of a pin-type barrel locking assembly of this invention, generally 800, is shown to include a barrel pin 802 having a head 804, a body 806 and a distal end 808 having a barrel pin aperture 810 therethrough and a retaining pin 812 designed to be inserted into the locking pin aperture 810. The assembly 800 also includes a locking pin line 814 attached at one end 816 to the pin head 804 and at its other end 818 to a first line attachment block 820 affixed to a barrel 822. The assembly 800 also includes a retaining pin line 824 attached at one end 826 to the retaining pin 810 and at its other end 828 to a second line attachment block 830 also affixed to the barrel 824. The barrel 824 includes a barrel aperture 832 therethrough to receive the barrel locking pin 802.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A&B, another preferred embodiment of a pin-type barrel locking assembly of this invention, generally 900, is shown to include a barrel pin 902 having a head 904, a body 906, a distal end 908, a head end o-ring 910 and a distal end o-ring 912. The assembly 900 also includes a barrel pin line 914 attached at one end 916 to the pin head 904 and at its other end 918 to a first line attachment block 920 affixed to a barrel 922. The assembly 900 also includes a locking pin holder 924 affixed to the barrel 922. The barrel 922 includes a barrel aperture 926 therethrough to receive the barrel locking pin 902 so that the o-rings 910 and 912 seal the barrel aperture 926.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A-B, a preferred embodiment of a lever-type barrel locking assembly of this invention, generally 1000, is shown to include a lever 1002 having a first end 1004, a body 1006 and a second end 1008. The lever 1002 is mounted on a lever mount 1010 via a pin 1012, which allows the lever 1002 to pivot relative to the mount 1010 and block the barrel 1016 when the lever 1002 is in its deployed state. The assembly 1000 also includes a lever retaining block 1014 affixed to the barrel 1016, which includes a slot 1018 through which the second end 1008 of the lever 1002 travel when in its deployed state to block the barrel 1016 as shown in FIG. 10B.

Referring now to FIGS. 11A-B, a preferred embodiment of a lever-type barrel locking assembly of this invention, generally 1100, is shown to include a lever 1102 having a first end 1104, and a second end 1106. The lever 1002 is mounted on a pin 1108, which allows the lever 1002 to pivot relative to the pin 1108. The lever 1102 is designed to pivot on the pin 1108 to extend into a barrel 1110 blocking it in its deployed state. The barrel 1110 includes a recess 1112 for allowing the first end 1104 of the lever 1102 to be flush with a surface 1114 of the barrel 1110 when in its non-deployed state and to be lifted to block the barrel 1110. The barrel 1110 also includes a slot 1116 through which the second end 1106 of the lever 1102 to block the barrel 1110 as shown in FIG. 1B.

All references cited herein are incorporated by reference. While this invention has been described fully and completely, it should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to its preferred embodiments, from reading this description those of skill in the art may appreciate changes and modification that maybe made which do not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention as described above and claimed hereafter. 

1. A barrel locking apparatus comprising: a threaded end, where the apparatus is designed to be screw onto an end of a threaded barrel to block the barrel preventing the inadvertent discharge of a projectile.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a hollow tubular member, where a proximal end is the threaded end and is closed and a distal end is opened.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: one or a plurality of vents in the closed end.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a hollow tubular member, where a proximal end is the threaded end and is opened and a distal end is closed.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: one or a plurality of vents in the closed end.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an end cap, where the proximal end is the threaded end and an enlarged distal end for ease of threading onto the threaded end of the barrel.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: one or a plurality of vents in the closed end.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an end cap, where the proximal end is the threaded end and an enlarged flattened distal end for ease of threading onto the threaded end of the barrel.
 9. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: one or a plurality of vents in the closed end.
 10. A barrel locking apparatus comprising: a barrel pin having an enlarged proximal end; where the pin is designed to be inserted into an aperture in a barrel of a non-lethal gun and to stop a projectile from inadvertently being discharged from the barrel.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a barrel pin mount; and a barrel pin line; where a first end of the barrel pin line attached to the barrel and a second end of the barrel pin line is attach to the proximal end of the barrel pin and where the mount is designed to retain the barrel pin when it is not deployed.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a retaining pin designed to be inserted through an aperture in a distal end of the barrel pin to prevent the barrel pin from falling out of the aperture in the barrel.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising: a retaining pin mount; and a retaining pin line; where a first end of the retaining pin line attached to the mount and a second end of the retaining pin line is attach to the proximal end of the retaining pin and where the mount is designed to retain the retaining pin when it is not deployed.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a retaining pin designed to be inserted through an aperture in a distal end of the barrel pin to prevent the barrel pin from falling out of the aperture in the barrel, a barrel pin mount; a barrel pin line; a retaining pin mount; and a retaining pin line; where a first end of the barrel pin line attached to the mount and a second end of the barrel pin line is attach to the proximal end of the barrel pin and where the mount is designed to retain the barrel pin when it is not deployed and where a first end of the retaining pin line attached to the mount and a second end of the retaining pin line is attach to the proximal end of the retaining pin and where the mount is designed to retain the retaining pin when it is not deployed.
 15. A barrel locking apparatus comprising: a barrel lever, and a pin about which the lever pivots; where the lever is designed to extend through a slot in a barrel of a non-lethal gun and to stop a projectile from inadvertently being discharged from the barrel in its deployed state.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a lever mount upon which the pin is mounted; and a mount designed to retain the lever when in its undeployed state.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: recess in the barrel for retaining a first end of the lever flush with the barrel in its undeployed state and to allow the first end to be raised to transition the lever to its deployed state, where a second end block the barrel. 